Danger zone: Armidale HQ's violent venue listing

By
LUCAS FORBES

The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has issued the latest list of the state’s most violent venues which now includes Armidale HQ.

Armidale HQ, formerly Mojos, has been listed among the state’s most dangerous pubs.

The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has issued the latest list of the state’s most violent venues which now includes Armidale HQ.

Last year the venue, then called Mojos, saw 14 incidents.

Former owner Anthony Hanna refused to comment while current owner Anthony Maklouf could not be contacted for comment.

The list comes as the Bureau of Crime Statistics issued its quarterly report.

In the Armidale Dumaresq Council area there were mostly small increases in thefts from motor vehicles and non-domestic assaults in the 12 months leading up to March 2014 compared with the same period last year.

Break and enters into homes decreased from 293 to 263 while break-ins at other types of buildings grew from 91 to 102.

Between March 2012 and 2013 Police reported there were 193 non-domestic assaults, which became 224 incidents according to the latest quarterly report. However in the same period domestic assaults fell from 156 to 152.

In the latest report the bureau lists Armidale’s rate of thefts from motor vehicles as more than double the rate of the general NSW rate with 337 incidents.

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said the results for the whole region were satisfying.

Mr Marshall said across the eight councils in the Northern Tablelands only Armidale saw a substantial increase in any of the 17 categories of major offences with steal from dwelling rising from 91 to 135.

Meanwhile Armidale Dumaresq Council has put the latest iteration of its Crime Prevention Strategy is up for public review.

The report lists a youth engagement program as one way to address crime levels in the community.

According to the report: “The Armidale Police advise that the crimes juveniles and young adults commit in the Armidale Dumaresq LGA are assault, stealing and malicious damage and anti-social behaviour.”

Council’s community safety committee has endorsed the creation of a working group to come up with ways to engage youth at night and keep them out of trouble.

Community services manager Jane Guilfoyle said this could be achieved through re-introducing a midnight basketball program.